Fields of Study in Natural Resources
National Mammals of the World
Wildlife Legislation
Wildlife Conservation Non-Profits
Wildlife Terminology
100
This field of study focuses on the relationships between organisms and their environment, including interactions with other species and physical surroundings.
What is ecology?
100
This large, grassland-dwelling mammal was designated as the national mammal of the United States in 2016.
What is the American bison?
100
This 1973 U.S. law protects species that are at risk of extinction and helps restore their populations through federal conservation efforts.
What is the Endangered Species Act (ESA)?
100
This international non-profit, known for its iconic panda logo, works to protect wildlife and habitats around the world.
What is the World Wildlife Fund (WWF)?
100
This term refers to an animal that is active during the day and rests at night.
What is diurnal?
200
Researchers in this field analyze fecal matter to gain insight into an animal’s diet, parasites, health, and even stress levels
What is scatology?
200
This marsupial, famous for carrying its young in a pouch, is the national animal of Australia.
What is the red kangaroo?
200
This international agreement, signed in 1973, regulates the trade of endangered species and their parts to prevent overexploitation.
What is CITES (the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species)?
200
This organization, founded in 1887, focuses on bird conservation and works to protect vital habitats for migratory species.
What is the National Audubon Society?
200
This term refers to a species that has a disproportionate impact on its ecosystem, often shaping habitat structure and biodiversity.
What is a keystone species?
300
This branch of toxicology examines the impact of heavy metals, pesticides, and industrial pollutants on wildlife and aquatic ecosystems.
What is ecotoxicology?
300
This small, ring-tailed primate is only found in Madagascar and serves as the country’s national animal.
What is the ring-tailed lemur?
300
This U.S. law, passed in 1900, was the first federal law to regulate wildlife trade and prohibits the transportation of illegally taken game across state lines.
What is the Lacey Act?
300
Based in the U.S., this non-profit is dedicated to protecting and restoring wildlands for large carnivores such as wolves, grizzly bears, and cougars.
What is the Wildlands Network?
300
This term refers to a species that has a very limited geographic range and is found nowhere else in the world.
What is an endemic species?
400
This field of study examines the movement, distribution, and quality of water in rivers, lakes, groundwater, and the atmosphere. Researchers in this field assess water availability, pollution, and the effects of climate change on aquatic ecosystems.
What is hydrology?
400
This big cat, known for its distinctive coloration and roar, is the national animal of both India and Bangladesh.
What is the Bengal tiger?
400
This 1937 law, funded by taxes on hunting equipment, provides crucial funding for state wildlife agencies and habitat restoration.
What is the Pittman-Robertson Act?
400
This organization, best known for its work in ocean conservation, campaigns to reduce plastic pollution, protect sharks, and prevent overfishing.
What is Oceana?
400
This term refers to a relationship where one species benefits while the other is neither helped nor harmed, such as barnacles attaching to a whale.
What is commensalism?
500
This field of study focuses on the behavior, ecology, and conservation of bears, including species like the American black bear, grizzly bear, and polar bear. Researchers in this field often study hibernation, human-wildlife conflict, and population dynamics.
What is ursinology?
500
This elusive and solitary big cat, known for its ability to thrive in harsh mountainous environments, is the national animal of Afghanistan and is rarely seen in the wild.
What is the snow leopard?
500
This U.S. law, passed in 1980, requires federal agencies to assess the environmental impact of development projects on public lands and wildlife before proceeding. It plays a key role in conservation planning and land use decisions.
What is the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)?
500
This non-profit focuses on anti-poaching efforts and works with rangers across Africa to protect elephants, rhinos, and other endangered species from illegal wildlife trade.
What is the International Anti-Poaching Foundation (IAPF)?
500
This term describes a process in which two or more species reciprocally influence each other’s evolution, such as predator-prey relationships or mutualistic interactions between pollinators and flowers.
What is coevolution?